It's not JUST the Destination, it's the Journey.
The Life of a Growing Family.

March 18, 2012

Well, Sarah's spring break has come and gone and it really couldn't have been any better. The week was especially enjoyable because of the unseasonably warm (and perfect) weather. Sometimes we have breaks that are "great" because of some big trip or event. But Spring Break 2012 will be remembered because of our enjoyment of the little things.

We spent the week enjoying things like breakfast together, watching Downton Abbey, going to CW, eating at the Cheese Shoppe at Merchant's Square, playing frisbee on the beach on James River, eating some of Sarah's favorite meals at home, taking bike rides along the bike trail in our neighborhood, going to Sweet Frogs for a treat, and just hanging around the house. It was great to see Sarah enjoy being at home, enjoying her siblings, spending time talking to Marti and me, and more or less "crashing" in a safe environment.

Not everything was easy (life did go on - Sam's school travails, fussy little girls from time to time, extended family issues, and so on). But it was a time for us to enjoy one another. We were sad to see Sarah go back to school yesterday, but we know that in a blink of an eye, she'll be cramming for finals and making plans to come back home for the summer.

pearl buck: Imperial WomanI read this book while we were in China. I enjoyed reading this historical novel as it gave me background information on the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace. The story was pretty interesting as well. (***)

Yiyun Li: The Vagrants: A NovelThis story is set in the 1970's and tells the tragic story about a town involved in the Democratic Wall Movement, a pre-Tiananmen Square political movement. The author paints a very real, sobering picture of life in China during this volatile time. Although it doesn't directly discuss one child policies, it helps provide insight to the recent challenges of life in China that lead to international adoption. (*****)

Pearl S. Buck: The Good Earth (Enriched Classics)As we get close to leaving for China, I have decided to read a few fictional works about China. My first was the old classic The Good Earth. I read it sometime in high school but realized that I didn't remember much about it. Anyway, the book was very revealing about pre-Revolutionary Chinese thought and reliance on agriculture. I understand better why it is considered a classic. (****)

Ken Follett: World Without EndThis 1000 page tome was worth the time it took to read it. This was the "sequel" of sorts to Pillars of the Earth. I would not have imagined I could be so engrossed by the lives of English peasants and nobility from the 14th century. (****)

Andrew Klavan: Empire of Lies (Otto Penzler Book)The 2nd Klavan mystery I have read. A much better plot. The author is a believer. The protagonist is a believer. The plot shows the raw reality of living out your faith...temptation, failure, victory, and everything in between. (****)

Dave Eggers: What Is the What (Vintage)An incredible story about one man's journey across and out of Sudan. Having lived in Kenya there was much that I could understand about his confusions of not knowing where to call home (the old village, the refugee camp, America?). (*****)

Ngugi Wa'Thiong'O: Wizard of the Crow: A novelA tremendous novel that reveals incredible insight to the African mind. A "fictional" country with a "fictional" tyrant and the havoc his reign brings to this country. A full analysis is forthcoming. A must-read if you want to better understand why Africans think the way they do. (*****)

Shaun Tan: The ArrivalA Phenonimal graphic novel. Not a single printed word, but oh the story this book tells. See my long analysis from June 4, 2008 for more details. (*****)

Bill Bryson: The Mother TongueA much different book by Bill Bryson, but still very funny and very informative. The author takes the reader on a very interesting journey back in time to explain the origins of the English language. He points out the many quirks and beauties of the language. An interesting book. (***)

Ceridwen Dovey: Blood Kin: A NovelThis new novel is extremely well written. It tells the story of a President who is overthrown in a coup. It follows the story of his barber, his painter, and his chef. It shows how pervasive and insidious corruption poisons not only those in power, but those around those in power. It is an intense portrayal of how we all desire power, wealth, and flesh.
What makes the story even more interesting is that none of the character's are named, nor is the country. You realize that it makes the story applicable to every person and place. Scary!
Well worth the read. (*****)

Leo Tolstoy: Master and Man and Other Stories (Penguin Classics)I really enjoyed this book of three short stories by Leo Tolstoy. The first two stories, Father Sergius and Master and Man, clearly show man's fallenness and his attempts at self-redemption (and the subsequent failure in these attempts). They are very thought provoking. I look forward to reading more Tolstoy in the future. (****)

Bill Bryson: Neither Here nor There: Travels in EuropeAnother funny travel book by Bryson. Again filled with a bunch of LOL antedotes. It was especially funny and relevant since we travelled Europe last year. I wonder how this author got his job..."hey, let me travel all over the world, eat and drink at your expense, and then write about my insights and misadventures." Sign me up!
A few "R" rated pages. (****)

Jeff Shaara: Gone for Soldiers: A Novel of the Mexican WarThis historical novel is about the Mexican War and introduces the reader to a bunch of names that will be intertwined in the Civil War. I have enjoyed Jeff Shaara's previous historical novels but this one took over 50 pages to warm up to...far too many. The dialogue and "inside thoughts" were too predictable. Nonetheless, I did enjoy reading about a subject I knew little about. (***)

Bill Bryson: Notes from a Small IslandAnother hilarious offering from Bill Bryson. This books continues the theme of my reading so far this year..."books set in a different country than America." The author pokes fun at his adopted country with such subtlety that the English could only agree with his observations. It is hard to read Bill Bryson when Marti is trying to laugh...muffled laughs are louder than I think. (****)

John Grisham: Playing For Pizza: A NovelThis book is a short novel by John Grisham and much different than most of Grisham's novels. It is set in Italy and is about a washed up 3rd string NFL quarterback who rediscovers the joy of playing football when he gets the "opportunity" to be a starting quarterback in an Italian Football League. Nonetheless, it was a joy to read especially since we so enjoyed our time in Italy. (****)

Khaled Hosseini: The Kite RunnerA very intense read. A moving and dark story about friendship, betrayal, and redemption. The main characters are Afghani and takes place first in pre-Soviet occupation Afghanistan, then the United States, and then in Taliban controlled Afghan. It is an incredible read. (*****)

Bill Bryson: A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian TrailAnother hilarious Bill Bryson offering. He details his experiences of walking the Applachian Trail with his sidekick Steve Katz. You can imagine the trials and tribulations (real and made up) that he faces as well as the triumphs of "making it." The "everyday man" climbs Mt. Everest (er...walks the AT!). Funny, but a few "R" rated pages. (***)

Bill Bryson: I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years AwayThis is clearly one of the funniest books I have read. The author had lived in Great Britain for over 20 years and returns back to the U.S. with his family. He writes about his "adventures" with reverse culture shock. His observations are "spot on." My face and sides still hurt (from smiling and laughing so hard). Importantly for me personally, he validates a lot of what I was experiencing coming back "home" after living abroad for period. He is one of my new favorite authors. (*****)

2011 Book List

Demetri Martin: This Is a BookI bought this thinking it might be interesting. I read a good review from Malcolm Gladwell (of Outliers fame). Malcolm is a better writer than a critique. This book was mostly sophomoric. (*)

Daniel Silva: The Messenger (Gabriel Allon Novels)I read this author on the recommendation of Marvin Olasky (in World Magazine). It started a bit slow but I liked it by the end. It is another spy thriller type book (life must not be interesting enough for me in the Emergency Department). (****)

Joel C. Rosenberg: The Twelfth ImamI liked this book. I know it is fiction, but it seems so realistic. We need to pay attention to what Iran is doing with their nuclear program. (****)

Pat Conroy: South of Broad: A NovelVery good book about friendships - the good, the bad, the ugly. I really enjoyed it at the beach because the setting is Charleston, SC. Conroy is a great author who obviously knows Charleston, its charms and its warts. (****)

Bill Bryson: At Home: A Short History of Private LifeBryson remains one of my favorite authors. In this work he takes us on a tour of his 19th century home and while doing so introduces us to the stories and history of things to do with home; how toilets and light bulbs and telephones and gardens and lawn mowers and so on were developed and invented. (*****)

Franklin Foer: How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of GlobalizationA very interesting book. The author "travels" the globe explaining the history of some of the world's great soccer teams and how there can be lessons about globalization in those histories. I didn't think the "theories" of globalization were strong, but the histories of each chapter were interesting to me as a sports fan. (***)

Joe Sacco: Footnotes in Gaza: A Graphic NovelAn extremely well done graphic novel telling the Palestinian story. It is balanced and doesn't come across heavy handed. It tells how the Gaza Strip has become such a complicated story. This book reminds us that there are always two sides to a story (and that the truth probably lays somewhere in the middle). (*****)

Winston T. Smith: Marriage Matters: Extraordinary Change Through Ordinary MomentsOne of the better books on marriage that I have read. Its constant theme is that we are all sinners and it is grace that sets us free. If we remember that God gave us our spouse to sanctify us and grow us, we should be a bit slower to be disappointed when they "let us down." Our marriages grow when we grow in grace. (****)

Michael Gerson: City of Man: Religion and Politics in a New EraA good primer on the need for changing how we approach politics in today's nasty political environment. The authors give a brief history of the growth and impact of the "Religious Right" but point out the need for a more civil tone. They do not advocate watering down the message, but to be better thinkers and communicators for the conservative message. (****)

Sally Lloyd-Jones: The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His NameAlthough this is written for children, the story is so well written that I found it an encouragement and blessing to read. It presented the story of the gospel in a clear compelling way. I used it as a devotional over the past several weeks as each "story" reminded me of the simple overarching message of the gospel...Jesus has an Never-Ending Love for his children. (*****)

Doug Tennapel: Monster ZooI've read a few of this authors graphic novels and have enjoyed them. However, this one was a bit disappointing. The plot was too simple and predictable. It was even a little forced at times. Save your time and forget this one. (**)

Dinesh D'Souza: The Roots of Obama's RageA very different book. The author tries to make the case that Obama is not the socialist villain that he often made out to be by the Right but rather a man trying to please his absent African father. At times the case seems believable, at others not so much. The best chapters are at the beginning of the book and the end of the book. Read it and draw your own conclusions. (***)

Brad Thor: The Apostle: A ThrillerAnother great yarn by Thor. I guess I am totally a sucker for espionage thrillers...especially in the day of counter-terrorism. Can't wait to read the next two books in this series. (*****)

Brad Thor: The First Commandment: A ThrillerI quickly read through this book. Again fast paced anti-terrorist thriller. Very interesting insights to terrorism and the counter-terrorist fight. A bit of a stretch in some parts of the book, but still good. I'm already reading his next book in this series. (****)

Donald Miller: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My LifeThis was my favorite read of the whole year so far! Donald Miller makes me laugh out loud all the time when I read him. The kids thought I was crazy when I sat on the beach reading this book. The whole main point of the book is that God is writing a story in our lives...are we going to be good characters who leave behind a good story, or are we going to be bad characters who miss out on the good story? Check the book out. (*****)

Bill Bryson: Shakespeare: The World as StageBill Bryson is one of my favorite non-fiction writers. I have usually read his travel books. I was not disappointed in this book. It was a great introduction to the "Bard". Highly recommended. (****)

G. K. Chesterton: The Man Who Was ThursdayThis was a very interesting read, part mystery, part suspense novel. This was the first fictional work I have read by this author and I loved it. I will have to check out his other works. (*****)

Tom Davis: Scared: A Novel on the Edge of the WorldI really liked this novel as it combined two topics near to my heart: Africa and Adoption. It was a compelling story of a photojournalist and a young African orphan girl and how their lives intersect and change one another. I thought most of the depictions of life in Africa were pretty realistic but there were a few scenes that were less than believable. Nonetheless, I recommend this book. (****)

Flannery O'Connor: The Violent Bear It AwayI know this is supposed to be an American classic but I found it dark and gloomy. The writer was certainly pitting good against evil but when "good" won it was because of some "evil." Not for the faint of heart. (***)

Richard Doster: Crossing the Lines: A NovelThis the sequel to the book Safe At Home. I enjoyed this story just as much. The protagonist in the story, Jack Hall, is a reporter who is in the right place at the right time. This book tells the story of the developing Civil Rights movement in the late 50s, early 60s from the reporters point of view. Very insightful. (*****)

Richard Doster: Safe at Home: A NovelI really enjoyed this novel. It is set in the rural South in the 1950's. It is about how the first black baseball player to play for a minor league team in the South turned life upside down. It explores the changes for both white and black. A neat story to show the internal and external struggles each person dealt with during the Civil Rights period. (****)

Malcolm Gladwell: Outliers: The Story of SuccessAnother fascinating book from the author of two of my favorite books The Tipping Point and Blink. Gladwell makes some fascinating observations and insights to success. He challenges the conventional wisdom about success. A good read that will make you say, "Huh, I hadn't thought of that." (*****)

Khaled Hosseini: A Thousand Splendid SunsThis is the second novel I have read by this author. Another stirring account of life in Afghanistan. It was incredibly appealing while at the same time appalling. A definite good read. (****)